Q&A: Is sleep apnea common for a 28-month-old?

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"The most enjoyable thing for me in practicing general pediatrics is to use my professional training and my experiences as a mother to help families to improve the health of their children," says Angela Rosas. "It is a wondrous feeling to watch children heal and develop into healthy young adults, knowing that you played a small role in the process."

Angela Rosas M.D., graduated from Stanford University with a degree in human biology. She attended medical school and completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of California at San Diego. She has been a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics since 1991. Dr. Rosas has practiced general pediatrics for eight years in community clinics, private practice, and university hospitals. She is currently Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California at Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. Her clinical and research interests are breastfeeding, asthma, adolescent care, children with disabilities, child abuse and neglect, and accident prevention. Dr. Rosas has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to various pediatric textbooks. She frequently lectures on pediatrics issues at medical conferences and for community agencies. Dr. Rosas is married to another pediatrician and has three young daughters.

Question

My son has been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Is this common at 28 months?

Answer

Sleep apnea is a disease in which the child or infant stops breathing periodically during sleep. There are several types of sleep apnea, some of which are more common in the older infant and child. At 28 months of age your son probably suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, where something blocks his airway when he falls asleep. Most commonly, enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids cause the blockage. Your son may be snoring loudly with periodic long pauses in his breathing pattern. He may appear more tired during the day because of restless sleeping at night. Other things that can cause blockage of the airway include reflux of stomach contents, decreased tone of the muscles about the neck and mouth, and severe obesity. Seizures can also mimic sleep apnea. Your child's sleeping problem needs a thorough evaluation, which may include monitoring his breathing and brain activity during sleep. If he is found to have obstructive sleep apnea from enlarged tonsils and adenoids, then the tonsils and adenoids need to come out.

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